Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Maui man critical following fall
WAILUKU, Maui — A Ha'iku, Maui, man was in critical condition yesterday after he fell 50 to 100 feet from the sea cliffs near the Pa'uwela Lighthouse on Maui's north shore.
The Maui Department of Fire Control rescue helicopter picked up the 22-year-old man up from the narrow rocky beach below the cliffs shortly before noon yesterday and delivered him to paramedics waiting at the Ha'iku Community Center. He was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku.
Assistant Fire Chief Frank Tam said it is not known when the man fell. The man had spent the previous night with friends in the area, who reported him missing at 11:29 a.m.
Police seize drugs in raid on business
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police said they seized more than an ounce of crystal methamphetamine and arrested two men Tuesday in a raid on a Hilo business.
Officers from the East Hawai'i Ice Task Force, East Hawai'i Vice Section and Criminal Intelligence Unit served a search warrant on G&G Machining and Waipi'o Valley Shuttles, a company located on Leilani Street.
Authorities said they seized more than 39 grams of crystal meth along with a small amount of marijuana and $700 in cash.
Gary Matsuo, 40, of Hilo was charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, promotion of a detrimental drug and three counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.
Matsuo was released after posting $15,500 bail.
A 38-year-old Hilo man was also arrested and released pending further investigation, police said.
Fire destroys home used as hatchery
HILO, Hawai'i — A fire in the 'Opihikao area did an estimated $80,000 damage early yesterday and killed 50 to 70 gamebird chicks, fire officials said.
The one-bedroom plantation-style home at 13-717C Kama'ili Road was being used as a chick hatchery, and was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at 6:11 a.m.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, fire officials said.
Man leads police on 2 car chases
HILO, Hawai'i — A 51-year-old Hilo man who was allegedly involved in two domestic disputes led police on two high speed chases Sunday and Monday before police were able to arrest him.
Wayne Okutsu was charged with two counts of abuse of a family member, two counts of violating a court protective order and numerous traffic offenses, police said.
He was being held at the Hawai'i Community Correctional Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Police were called to a Hilo home late Sunday because of a domestic dispute, but said the man involved sped off, leading officers on a high-speed chase.
Police said they called off the chase for safety reasons.
Early Monday officers were summoned to the same home by neighbors reporting another domestic abuse incident, and the man involved again sped off.
Officers determined the telephone line to the home had been cut.
Officers later found Okutsu hiding behind some bushes at another Hilo home, and police said they arrested him after a struggle.
